RUTHERGLEN pulled off a stunning comeback kicking into the wind against Wahgunyah on Saturday, claiming a 15-point win after trailing by a goal at three-quarter time.
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Cats coach Karl Jacka said the win was a sign of recent off-field successes coming good on the park, praising his team for hanging tough when conditions were against them.
“We were able to skip out to a lead a few times and Wahgunyah kept coming back, so it was great to get the points in such a close game and against a very good side,” Jacka said.
“We’ve had a few games where we’ve been in the contest at three quarter- time and dropped them, so for the team to rally the way they did was a great sign of what we’re trying to do.”
Finals remain a possibility for the ninth- placed Cats, who sit just two games shy of the top five, but Jacka said there wasn’t any talk of September action.
“There’s a lot of belief in this group, but we aren’t motivating our guys by dangling the finals carrot in front of them,” Jacka said.
“When you look at sides like Kiewa or Mitta they’re successful because they have the right structures in place off the field.”
Chiltern avenged their round 1 loss to Barnawartha with a convincing 50-point win at home, with Jaise Coleman again starring for the Swans.
Coleman was well supported by the likes of Jayden Vandermeer in one of his best games for the year, while Shane Laracy again did plenty of heavy lifting for the Tigers.
Mitta United’s mid-season revival hit a wall against the still unbeaten Kiewa-Sandy Creek, with the Mountain Men only able to muster three goals in rough conditions.
The class of the Hawks shone through the weather though, the reigning premiers doing the damage in the second quarter.
Jacob Barber was prolific all afternoon and found solid support from Tim Hallinan and Mark Hortle, while Edward Turnbull turned in his second successive best- on-ground performance for Mitta United.
Thurgoona can be thankful for the wet weather, with Dederang-Mt Beauty’s inaccuracy in front of goal saving their blushes in the 23-point win.
The Bombers kicked a whopping 19 behinds to let a potential upset slip, with most of the damage being done in the first half, where they were completely off-target, kicking 3.10.
The Bulldogs were the dominant team in the second half though, booting 10 goals to five to keep their finals hopes alive.
Beechworth continued the Wodonga Saints’ miserable season with a 185-point drubbing.
